Tugboat – 1957 built HELP at Malta – March 2002
One of the Emden, Germany built tugs that called at Malta was the single screw tugboat HELP, homeported at Nuku Alofa, Tonga flag (TON). She was built by Werft Schulte & Bruns, at Emden, Germany as VOURI with yard number 193 and launched on 15th November 1956 for Union des Remorqueurs de Douala, Cameroon, homeported at […]
Casualties – FRAU NANCY Disabled – 24.04.2007
On Tuesday 24th April 2007 the local tug LIENI was seen towing the disabled 1972 built ship FRAU NANCY towards Grand Harbour, Malta. FRAU NANCY was bound to Algeria when engine problems occurred and she was disabled. Local tugboat LIENI was dispatched from Grand Harbour around 2200 hrs towards her position – 20 miles north […]
Maritime Accident – Virtu Gozo High Speed Craft SAN FRANGISK – 30.03.2023
On Thursday 30th March the High Speed Craft SAN FRANGISK had to abort the 1645 hrs voyage just outside Mgarr Harbour breakwater due to an exhaust problem in the engine room that caused a thick smoke. As a precaution all passengers were evacuated onto smaller craft including Galaxy Charters Malta Boat CHIKO. At no time […]
Russia-Ukraine War – Turkish Flag Floating Sheerlegs attacked in Ukraine – 12.12.2022
On Monday 12th December around 1530 hrs (Ukranian Time) the Turkish (TUR) Flag floating sheerlegs ZAKHARIJ was attacked after the Russians opened fire at the Kherson region of which she’s berthed there with a bomb dropping in her engine room. She’s the largest floating crane (though sheerlegs) in Turkey and was built in 2011 at […]
Casualties – 3 dead and 1 injured in engine room explosion at Crotone, Italy – 31.08.2022
Around 1750 hrs of Wednesday 31st August, 2022 an engine room explosion aboard the 1983 built 24.5 metres workboat ASSO whilst berthed at Crotone Port, Italy with 3 crew members as fatalities ( 2 were thrown on the quay while the third body was found afloat in the sea – 2 Indians and an Egyptian, […]
Casualties – Ship XELO sank after running aground off Tunisia – 16.04.2022
On Friday 15th April, 2022 the 1977 built 59 metre ship XELO issued distress signal reporting water ingress, flooded engine room, after she ran aground at the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia . All 7 crew (2 Azerbaijanis, 4 Turkish and Georgian captain ) were reportedly rescued and hospitalised for checks and currently in a hotel. […]
Virtu Ferries – Spend your Public Holidays in Sicily – December 2021
During November/December 2021 Virtu Ferries announced a robust schedule and special fares for Easter and Summer 2022 operating with 2 High Speed Craft – JEAN DE LA VALETTE and SAINT JOHN PAUL II . Infact JEAN DE LA VALETTE did an engine refit worth Euro 8 million by the German Engine Manufacturers MTU. Sea Trials […]
Casualties – Tanker FILICUDI M disabled – 26.11.2021
On Thursday 25th November at 0625 hrs the 2005 built Italian flag and owned chemical/oil products tanker FILICUDI M left Sarroch, Sardegna, Italy bound to Augusta, Italy. On the night of Friday 26th November the Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) of Mazara Del Vallo was engaged in rescue operation after an Engine Room Fire which […]
Casualties – Iranian Navy Replenishment Tanker caught fire and sank – 02.06.2021
The largest ship in the Iranian navy IRIS KHARG 431 caught fire and later sank in unclear circumstances today, Wednesday 2nd June in the Gulf of Oman. The fire blaze started around 0225 hrs according to the Fars News Agency with efforts to save the ship failed and she sank off the Iranian port of […]
Tanker News – GULF PETROLEUM 4 refused entry to Malta – 08.05.2021
It started on Saturday 8th May, 2021 around 1010 hrs when the Libyan tug SILIN towing the 159 metre tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4 was called on vhf Ch 12 by Valletta VTS to stay at least 26 miles offshore Malta. Few minutes later during conversation exchanges between the ships, radio officer aboard the tanker stated […]
